Real Madrid and the rarest league in its history
#Saporta
Raimundo Saporta, Santiago Bernabéu's right-hand man, said that Real Madrid was "in the monarchy, monarchic; in the Republic, republican and in the Franco regime, Francoist". An intelligent way of defending themselves from the attacks that pointed to them as the team of the government of the moment. The club had to be rebuilt after the Civil War. Three years of fratricidal confrontation that nipped its best moment in the bud. From the 1933 title to the 1954 title, 21 years passed in white. But Real Madrid is full of great moments. Di Stéfano, Raúl or Cristiano Ronaldo embody this historical journey.
#337days
The 34th league will always be remembered. It started on 18 August 2019 and ended on 19 July 2020. 11 months of competition in two very different chapters. And, in between, a pandemic that has changed the world in just 90 days. From one end of the planet to the other, all human beings have changed their habits at the same time to fight a virus.
#DiStefano
Real Madrid have been crowned league champions at the Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium in their sports city of Valdebebas. Without an audience. Without offering the title to their goddess Cybele. Without going to the headquarters of the Community of Madrid or the City Council, although Ayuso and Almeida were present in the box. Without mass baths. Nothing. Exemplary in its forms with a statement prior to the title to ask his fans for sanity. And the fans responded. They already say that Zidane has confined more people in a few hours than Sanchez has in 70 days.
#ZizuAlRescue
The French coach was putting order back into a Real Madrid that was adrift in sport. A path they walk from time to time and that helps them remember who they are and where they come from. Having a bad time to have a good time again. A team of stars who had won everything several times. Without Cristiano Ronaldo and without a goal. That was the team's problem for Christmas. Nobody scored any goals. Benzema was the Guadiana and Bale stepped more on the grass of the golf courses than the Bernabeu. Mariano didn't count, and Hazard looked at his ankle worried.
#MoreZidane
But Zidane is the alma mater of modern Real Madrid. The one who gave a Champions League with his volley in Glasgow and the one who opened the path of the galacticos. The one who learned the way to win the Champions from the bench and ended up adding another three in a row and thus annihilating all the useless statistics of football. The only coach who has gone through Chamartin who can look those players in the face.
#Burning slave
The league of the burning nail was the one that Real Madrid won in 2007 with Capello. A Betis draw at the Camp Nou gave them the lead on points. A goal from Tamudo on the same stage earned them a draw in Zaragoza and led to Calderon's embarrassing comeback in La Romareda. So far, the rarest league ever won in recent history. Above that of the 100 points of Mourinho against Guardiola in 2012.
But the coronavirus league will be sadly remembered. The club has honored its deceased members in every game. Characters like Lorenzo Sanz or Radomir Antic are the visible face of so many others that a banner in each game has reminded them in Valdebebas.
#Presumed
The return from confinement was a lottery for football. The physical condition of the players could be fine but then you had to compete. Barça players gave interviews in which they boasted of their fitness. Real Madrid did not boast of something as normal as being in good shape to play football. It helps a lot, but more is needed. Sober, without that indoor football that you don't know how to do. United. A team that has stepped more in the area and that has forced the VAR to work hard. It should not be forgotten that videoarbitration has given Real Madrid a league. Above all, when before the start of the last stretch of the league Barça was the leader, four points behind the whites. And even more so when Setién's team was unable to beat Osasuna in the Camp Nou, playing for the title. Something similar to 2014 when Atletico took the title in Barcelona after a 1-1 draw.
#Players
Benzema's Real Madrid. From the impossible 9 that ends up at the level of goal scorers like Messi. That Frenchman who will continue to block the arrival of a good forward and whom we will see coming and going from the way to the goal.
The Madrid of Bale. Happy in the capital between golf clubs and benches. The one that will return to star in some soap opera in summer to try to leave the club towards some place where it can get to compete with Tiger Woods.
The Ramos team. From the captain who already looks sideways at the United States while waiting for a call from Florentino to renew. A season that closes with an embarrassing penalty that was not trained and did not need the game or the rival.
#Modric
Real Madrid focused on the eight remaining matches. Modric rested in confinement as much as he needed after many years without a vacation. And he returned to the highest level to lead the team. The rest of them gave up, fought and won.
#Champions
Now they have another peculiar Champions. In August, the redeemed Manchester City awaits them in England. It's not the team that was defeated at the Bernabeu 1-2. Five months later they will face the return match and this league makes them believe in the comeback. The sweetened football left by the pandemic is also won by Real Madrid.